Joshi seeks thorough probe into chopper deal

Comparing the controversial Rs.3,600-crore AugustaWestland chopper deal with the Bofors scam, senior Bharatiya Janata Party leader Murli Manohar Joshi said here on Saturday that the matter “should be inquired in all its totality.”

He said the deal was similar to Bofors as both have an Italian connection. “Bofors also involved an Italian company and an Italian individual was associated with it. In this case also an Italian is associated,” Mr. Joshi said, adding that both the dealings were associated with the defence sector.

The BJP would raise the chopper deal in the upcoming session of the Parliament; he said adding that such developments “endanger national security.”

“The BJP will demand that the matter be probed under the monitoring of the Supreme Court or though a special investigation team,” he said.

Mr. Joshi however refused to comment when asked about allegations of involvement of a key aide of Congress vice-president Rahul Gandhi in the chopper deal.

Referring to scams that have come to fore during the regime of the UPA II such as 2G spectrum and coalgate, Mr. Joshi said that “it is the most corrupt” government so far.

“While corruption is on the rise because of the policies of the UPA government they are trying to hide and suppress such cases,” he said.

Did Mr. Joshi ever show the same enthusiasm to go after the truth in the Babri Masjid demolition case? Did he ever say that the matter “should be inquired in all its totality.” Maybe he thinks it happened too long ago and it is forgotten or that by picking on the INC/UPA - who are no saints either - that the BJP's duplicity will go unnoticed.